Batman: Riddler

Batman Post-Crisis #83

by Matt Wagner, Dave Taylor (Illustrator)

Riddler starts his own riddle show. That isn't good...
In this issue the Riddler has a new public access TV show where he humiliates and exposes the secrets of the rich, all the while giving his audience a chance to win money or experience pai, depending on wether they answer it correctly or not.
Batman and Gordon are on the case, especially when they find out that on his next show, the Riddler wants to expose the secrets of Billionare Bruce Wayne

Genres: Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Superheroes

50 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Matt Wagner is an American comic book writer and artist. In addition to his creator-owned series' Mage and Grendel, he has also worked on comics featuring The Demon and Batman as well as such titles as Sandman Mystery Theatre and Trinity, a DC Comics limited series featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.

Reviews

[Mohamed Metwally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Batman short, from the best single issues list on GoodReads, it is a quick run in between the Bat and the Riddler, can be read with no background or deep knowledge of the riddler, or even batman. It all lasts 50 pages start to end...

These single issues are fun to read to get a dose of the masked crusader without delving too deep in a multi-issue series, just some quick action...

MiM

[Gonzalo Oyanedel · Rating 2 out of 5]

El guionista que ganó un merecido prestigio en las lides independientes gracias a su magnífico Grendel teje una historia instrumental, destinada a promocionar la película "Batman Forever" (1995) que encima recoge al insigne villano en una etapa singularmente decadente. Sin ser un mal relato, acusa dichas limitaciones de época.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, starts out annoying and it's nothing memorable, and I really don't know why they gave Riddler that laugh, but an okay read overall.

[Ashcan F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

especial del Acertijo que creo que se publicó oportunamente cerca del estreno de Batman Forever.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

When it comes to Matt Wagner's work, it is either a hit or a miss with me, rarely middle of the road. This is another miss. There is nothing outstanding about this Riddler-focused issue. Wagner writes more puns for E.Nigma than actual riddles which severely damages the story.
Dave Taylor's art screams mid-90s. Bright colors and dark shadows with weird stances and almost no scale to speak of.
I can say that "oh, yeah. I read that" but before too long, it will fade and get jumbled up with a hundred other tales from Gotham where the bad guy takes over a TV channel and broadcasts a evil game show. Unless you are a die-hard Riddler fanatic that just has to have all things Riddler... Then skip this basic comic.

[Batman Collected Editions · Rating 2 out of 5]

Batman: Riddler - The Riddle Factory is a one-shot in prestige format, released in 1995—the same year Batman Forever hit theaters. It was likely published to take advantage of the fact that the Riddler is one of the villains in the movie.

The Riddler takes over a TV broadcast to host his own game show, where he exposes the dark secrets of the rich and famous. However, this is just a front—he is searching for something else. It’s hard to find truly good Riddler stories, and unfortunately, this isn’t one of them. What the Riddler was up to simply wasn’t that interesting. Wagner should have fully committed to the game show angle—uncovering the dirty secrets of Gotham’s upper class, especially in this day and age of social media scandals and celebrity exposés. Also, for someone obsessed with flaunting his genius, the Riddler comes across as surprisingly unprepared in this book.

This book is written by Matt Wagner and illustrated by Dave Taylor. While Taylor's artwork is not bad, I’m surprised that Wagner did not illustrate the interiors himself, especially considering that he both wrote and illustrated Batman and the Monster Men, Batman and the Mad Monk, Batman: Faces, Batman/Grendel, and Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity. I would have preferred if Wagner had done the art for this one.

My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those missed opportunities when you just know two people are slumming it. Comics is such an easy medium to skip by in. Get a cash check and move on. So; when two phenomenal creators; Matt Wagner (Mage, Grendel, Trinity) and Dave Taylor (Batman: Death by Design, Nowhere Men) put out this uninspired 90s comic--you can't get too remiss.

This is basically a cute idea, about the Riddler becoming a cable access pirate similar to the infamous Max Headroom intrusion. The art is actually surprisingly detailed with a bit of Frank Quietly vibe.

Ultimately, this isn't the sum of its parts and could have been quite a good collaboration, but instead join Doctor Midnight and The Demon as works that Matt Wagner was doing as a standard WFH, and not quite a labor of love similar to Trinity or Batman an the Monster Men.

(And to think, that Matt Wagner and Neil Gaiman were to do Superman at somepoint)

[SmokingMirror · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is way better than 2.82 stars.

I read this several years ago but ran across it again right about the time I heard that this was Cory Michael Smith's favorite Riddler book. (They even did an rough adaptation of it in the Gotham series.) Riddler books have often been disappointing to me with either too much viciousness or too many "frog in a blender, chicken crossing the road" style riddles. This one had the right tone for my taste. It is very 90s in its sensibility but it's nice to see someone who is still current as one of the obnoxious and deserving Riddle Factory victims, even if the send up of this guy is not really to the point anymore.

I'd really like to be directed to some more enjoyable Riddler books.

[Mega · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, I would actually watch a Riddler game show if that was a thing that actually existed. Seems like it would be a pretty fun and stupid time, aside from all the torture and possible death going on here. Although, I wouldn't watch the show if The Riddler made all of the faces he does here. Seriously, what was the artist on when he was drawing all of these expressions, because I want to take a hit of that too!

Issue #1

[mt · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) the ending was meh but otherwise it was pretty good:D it had its iconic moments, ngl I would unironically enjoy watching the riddle factory gameshow and I like that the Riddler was basically just exposing corrupt rich men with that, also as a math student I loved that panel of him saying ‘someone prove my theorem… oh, please’ lmao

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a bit rushed. Definitely loved the artwork and the concept of the story but everything could’ve been much better if it wasn’t as short (though I get why it is)

Also the riddler is kind of transphobic in this and I was very uncomfortable with that. Felt ooc.

[Chalupa Batman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise, but the payoff was a bit lame (seemed Rush)

[Daryl Bowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Batman story. The artist was so good, that he was able show all the flamboyance of The Riddler!

[Maegan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very, very bad.

[Lomu Noir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tomo único con el Acertijo que seguro emulaba el prestige USA con su lomo opaco.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t love the art, but I do like the idea of Bruce Wayne outsmarting The Riddler and publicly embarrassing him.

[Goatllama]

My hazy memories enjoyed the game shows and are very confused (and uncomfortable) by/with some of the character interactions. Solid art, I think?

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The riddler comes off to much like the Joker with a constant stream of HaHas and HooHoos, but it's a good basoc story.

[Jdetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the Riddler and would like to say I enjoyed this story more, but it doesn't quite work. The Riddler has one of the most convoluted plans I've ever seen, and I'm not sure the plan would actually work. Certainly the logistics of it, and the ridiculously quick sensation that his show becomes with no publicity behind it seems hard to believe. Plus, this is not my favorite type of Riddler portrayal; he's too silly and laughing like a maniac. It makes him too much like the Joker. Close, but not quite good.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Riddler has his own TV program where he dishes scandal on celebrities. What is he really up to? This is quite a fun, little story. It has a lot to say about people on want to be on TV, and the power of it. The Riddler isn't really doing anything wrong, so the police have nothing on him. A good read.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tomo especial dedicado al Acertijo en inglés. No recuerdo si lo tengo incluido en otro recopilatorio también.
Seguro que me salió muy barato pero no recuerdo dónde lo compré.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, so.